Advanced Open Water Diver Course

About the Course

The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver Course is designed to help certified divers gain experience, build confidence, and expand their underwater skills. This course focuses on learning by doing, allowing you to explore new types of diving while continuing to train under direct instructor supervision.

Advanced Open Water introduces deeper diving, underwater navigation, and specialty style adventure dives that help you become more comfortable and capable in a variety of environments. Upon completion, you will be certified to dive to a maximum depth of 30 m / 100 ft.

This course follows official PADI Advanced Open Water Diver standards, ensuring your certification is recognized worldwide.

Prerequisite: You must be a certified Open Water Diver or equivalent from a recognized training agency.

Course Breakdown

• PADI eLearning Complete only the academic sections related to the Adventure Dives you select. This allows you to focus on practical experience rather than repeating foundational theory.
• Five Adventure Dives conducted under direct instructor supervision.
  • Required Core Dives: Deep Adventure Dive and Underwater Navigation Adventure Dive
  • Elective Adventure Dives (choose three):
    • Boat Dive
    • Peak Performance Buoyancy
    • Night Dive
    • Drift Dive
    • Digital Underwater Imaging
    • Search and Recovery
    • Underwater Naturalist
    • Fish Identification
    • Dive Against Debris (AWARE)

Why Train Advanced Open Water in Hilo?

Hilo offers an excellent environment for advanced training, with volcanic shorelines, healthy coral reefs, and variable conditions that encourage strong situational awareness and skill refinement. Advanced training here emphasizes control, buoyancy, navigation, and adaptability in real world conditions.

With small group instruction and direct supervision, divers gain meaningful experience rather than simply logging dives. Many students find that completing Advanced Open Water in Hilo makes diving in other destinations feel easier and more relaxed.

Weather & Ocean Conditions

Weather and ocean conditions on Hawai‘i Island vary by season and location. Our instructors evaluate surf, visibility, currents, and conditions daily to select appropriate dive sites and adventure dives for training.

Training plans may be adjusted to ensure safe, effective learning while still meeting all course requirements.

Why Choose Hilo Ocean Adventures?

• Small group, personalized instruction
• Direct, supervised training on Hilo’s lava shoreline beaches and coral reefs
• Healthy reef environments that showcase thriving ocean ecosystems
• Passionate, educated staff focused on comfort, confidence, and skill mastery
• Green Fins certified dive center committed to environmentally responsible diving
• PADI Five Star Dive Center recognized for high quality instruction and safety standards

Our goal is to help divers move beyond basic certification and become confident, capable explorers who can safely enjoy a wide range of scuba experiences around the world.